AZERBAIJANI-IRANIAN JOINT STATEMENT

UNCLAS BAKU 001074 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/IR AND EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ETRN PBTS PGOV PREL IR AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI-IRANIAN JOINT STATEMENT REF: BAKU 01072 Sensitive but unclassified; not for internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Azerbaijan and Iran signed four memoranda and one joint statement during President Ahmadinejad's August 21-22 visit to Baku. The Embassy's informal translation of the key points from the August 22 joint follows: ¶2. (SBU) Begin translation of key points: - Recognizing the need for the broad development of bilateral relations; - Recognizing the importance of the bilateral dialogue given the current flow of international relations; - Sharing the concern of the conflicts impeding the whole development of the regional economic and other relations; - Reiterating the need for further development of the bilateral political, economic, cultural, and other relations per the potential of two countries; - Expecting the visits to contribute to the further development of the bilateral relationship; - Reiterating the need to use the UN Charter, international legislation, namely territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, non use of force, etc.; and - Reiterating the important role of mutual agreements, The statement noted: - The need to further develop relations. - The need for further development of political relations at various levels, including parliaments. - The importance of the bilateral commission on economic, trade, and humanitarian issues. - The need to pursue steps to develop economic, transport, trade, communication, tourism, public health, culture, and environment-related relations. - To apply efforts on energy, trade, oil-chemistry, machine-building, agriculture, transport, and communication areas. - Appreciate the need for infrastructure and transport projects development. Thus, support the Ordubad and Marazad water power station and Julfa-Julfa new bridge construction. - Pursue actions for peaceful resolution of disputes with respect to the UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. - Once again reiterate that the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be resolved based on UN and OIC resolutions and by recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and inviolability of borders. - Noted the need for the OSCE Minsk Group to take more firm steps toward the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. - The need to increase efforts to fight international terrorism, extremism, aggressive separatism, drug smuggling in the "uncontrolled zones," drugs causing mental disorders, weapons and human trafficking, preventing dissemination of WMD and condemning threats to international security and stability. - Supports the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to develop peaceful nuclear capacity based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty and cooperation with IAEA and the rights of all counties, including Iran. - Expressing satisfaction with the July 20, 2007 meeting of Caspian states' Foreign Ministers and supported the idea of a grand meeting of the presidents in Tehran. - The need for constructive dialogue over Caspian delimitation. Highly appreciated the Working Group on the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers. - Noted and appreciated the meetings between Nakhchivan and the Islamic Republic of Iran and neighboring regions and supported this cooperation. - The need to intensify efforts to develop all range of relations. - The readiness to cooperate in the frame of international organizations on the issues representing mutual interest. - Expressed belief to have this statement as a milestone document for development of the bilateral relations. End translation of key points. DERSE